This site is devoted to coverage of Missoula area legislative races and ballot issues. The articles were produced by students at the University of Montana School of Journalism.

Monday, October 6, 2008

House District 99: Betsy Hands

DEMOCRATAGE: 38

OCCUPATION: Executive Director of homeWORD, a non-profit community housing organization

HOMETOWN: She was born in Australia and has lived in seven or eight places throughout her life, but says she considers Missoula, Mont., home.FAMILY: Single

EDUCATION: B.A. in social science with a focus on sustainable development, University of Michigan; MA in environmental studies, University of MontanaPOLITICAL OR PUBLIC SERVICE: Peace Corps Volunteer 1996-1998, Montana House of Representatives 2007-present

Hands: Environment, energy are priorities

By ALLISON MAIER

When Democrat Betsy Hands and her former Republican challenger for House District 99, Jedediah Cox, met at a television interview, he dressed up in a suit. She wore a Hawaiian shirt and hand-shaped earrings, unintentionally alluding to her last name. -MORE-